A Muslim Caliphate Pages

Objectives Describe the caliphate (KAY luh fayt) established and headquartered at Baghdad Identify contributions of Islamic civilization to the world

Muslim ruler al-Mansur 700 A.D., decided to build a city along the Tigris River in present- day Iraq (Baghdad) The city quickly became the center of the Muslim civilization’s greatest achievements in science, art, and architecture

Art & Architecture

Muslim Rule By 700s A.D., Islam was just over 100 years old: it had changed a lot Caliphs were chosen to govern the land – what does “caliph” mean? Successor to the Prophet Lands ruled by the caliph were called the caliphate

The Caliphate Expanded into western Asia and North Africa Many places converted to Islam Other places did not convert, but learned Arabic What tied the Muslim caliphate together? The rule of Muslim law and leadership; the Arabic language

Baghdad Center of city was caliph’s domed palace Next to palace rose a great mosque – What is a mosque? A place of worship where Muslims go for daily prayers City became a center of international trade – four main roads went to all parts of the caliphate

Baghdad Today

International Trade in Baghdad Arabian perfume Indian pepper African ivory Russian furs Chinese dishware Over one million people lived in Baghdad!

How would you compare the imperial capital of Rome at its height to Baghdad? Large populations Crowding Magnificent buildings Destination of roads Trade goods available Status as world cities ROME VS. BAGHDAD

Books in Ancient Baghdad Baghdad’s new paper mill made it possible to create many books Muhammad was said to have declared, “He who travels in search of knowledge, travels along Allah’s path of paradise.” The caliphs preserved Greek, Roman, and Indian works translated into Arabic on a huge library called the House of Wisdom Arab scholars read this books on history, science, law, and mathematics BAGHDAD’S HOUSE OF WISDOM

How did Muhammad’s declaration send the Muslims on a worldwide quest for knowledge? It sent them off to gather knowledge from other parts of the world and to build on it

Advances in Medicine Muslim doctors translated Greek medical texts A famous Muslim doctor named Ibn Sina (or Avicenna in Latin) described how diseases spread through air and water Baghdad had many doctors, including “moving hospitals” that would give treatment to people who lived far away

Advances in Math and Science We use the Arabic number system today Added greatly to the field of algebra Studied astronomy – the Muslim calendar is based on the moon’s movement Muslims improved the Greek astrolabe to figure out the position of the stars

What was the astrolabe? How might its development help later explorers, like Columbus? The ability to use star positions to find one’s location would give future explorers a means to strike out over ever greater distances across Earth

Places of Worship: Mosques Mosques had to follow standards: Had to make sure they faced Mecca Needed tall towers so that leaders could call people to prayer Needed walled-in courtyards to hold hundreds of worshipers

Why do you think that architects strive for beauty when they build places of worship? Perhaps because they wanted to show great honor for the deity worshiped and to elevate worshipers’ minds and hearts

Dome of the Rock Oldest Muslim monument still standing Built in 691 A.D. Honors the place where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended into heaven

Literature and Music Poetry was well-loved among the people of Baghdad Folktales were also very popular Favorites were collected into a book called “The Arabian Nights” – the tale of Aladdin and his lamp is one the stories

Why do you suppose that collections like The Arabian Nights became long-lived favorites of Islamic literature? A love story is basic to human nature

Summing it Up Under the caliphs who came after Muhammad, Islam spread into Asia, Africa, and Europe The caliphate furthered learning in medicine, math, and astronomy Mosques were centers of Muslim worship throughout the caliphate and remain religious centers today

Think About It Which of Baghdad’s trade goods came from other regions? Indian pepper, African ivory, Russian furs, Chinese dishware and silk What were some of the achievements of the Muslim caliphate in medicine? Discovering that disease can spread through air and water In what ways did Islam influence life in the city of Baghdad? It made Baghdad a city of magnificent mosques and it focused the citizenry on living by the Five Pillars Based on your study of the geography of Mesopotamia, make a conclusion about the dangers of building Baghdad on the Tigris River. Destructive flooding